8 Responses to San Diego, CA: FSSP parish

I had heard this account from others, but being directed to it in print by a commenter, it gives me great pleasure to share it here with other readers. Fr. Carl is a most level-headed young priest, who seems to know quite well how to handle himself both diplomatically and, shall we say, athletically. I’m sure we shall all reflect upon this account with some satisfaction, as we sing liturgical compline with Fr. Gismondi this evening.

“[This] cautionary tale involves my attendance at a High Mass on St. Peter’s day at which the celebrant was a newly-ordained priest of The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter – the Latin Mass chaplains to the Archdiocese of Melbourne. A beautiful Mass with a small but expert choir which chanted the Propers according to the Liber Usualis and led the congregation in the chant of the Kyrie, Gloria, and Credo.

At Communion, I was happily on my knees amongst the empty pews distracted by the detritus abandoned by the communicants queuing in the central aisle.

Suddenly, the Subdeacon (Fr Carl Gismondi FSSP) leaped from the altar step and chased a communicant along the Epistle side aisle. He was aided and abetted by two laymen (both of Marine stature if not training) who blocked the path of the fleeing young man. Fr Carl immobilized him until the younger of the other two had him in a headlock and the trio marched him out to the narthex.

Such undignified behaviour! The cause?? Fr Gismondi had noticed that the young man, having received Communion in his mouth – the FSSP adheres to the 1962 RULES as well as the RITES – put his hand to his mouth and, seeing Fr Carl looking at him, feigned a cough. Fr Carl looked away and then straight back to see the fellow removing the Host from his mouth. Then the chase was on!

No one is quite sure what the full motive behind the action was, but we may be fairly sure that he wasn’t taking the Sacrament home to his sick mum.

The Host was retrieved but whether any action was taken was not announced.”

This is wonderful news for California and San Diego. I am sure the great Auxiliary of San Diego must have had something to do with this. I also hope this will show bishops in California what a blessing an FSSP parish can be. Look at the great work of St. Stephen’s in Sacramento. Sadly not every California bishop supports FSSP parishes. We continue to pray in the diocese of Fresno for an FSSP to be assigned to Fresno or Bakersfield for the care fo the traditional catholics. We are currently served by two wonderful priests of the diocese of Fresno. I feel a fulltime FSSP priest assigned to the diocese would bring even more faithful to the Extraordianry Form. The priest of the diocese have ancilary duties but an FSSP priest would be able to serve the communities full time.

Wonderful news. A good friend of mine knows Fr. Gismondi quite well and has talked him up endlessly. A priest who’s willing to make an open field tackle to protect the Eucharist? That’s all I need to know.

I was down in San Diego on business this past February and attended the daily Latin Mass at St. Anne’s. You know, it’s a bit weathered on the outside, but a fairly roomy space and there appeared to be classrooms adjacent. All of this will be a tremendous blessing to the trad faithful of San Diego.

Side note: my cab driver from the airport had a heck of a time finding the church. “Sicard Street? Sicard Street? Are you sure?! Hmmmm….Sicard Street….” We took quite a few detours before finding the place, but at least he stopped the meter.

“…my cab driver from the airport had a heck of a time finding the church.”

I’m surprised about that. Not that he should know where St. Anne’s is off the top of his head, although it’s pretty simple to get to off the 5-South. But even in London where I lived for ten years, the inner London cabbies (including those with “The Knowledge”) and mini-cab drivers ALL use the A-Z, without fail, or at least have it handy. I would think that any sensible cabbie in San Diego would have a Thomas Brothers. guide on his front seat. Interesting. I’m glad he stopped the meter for you!

If you’d like to see some pictures of the interior and exterior of St. Anne’s, Sicard St. in San Diego, see the following article:

Our group will be singing 1st Vespers of the Feast of All Saints with Fr. Gismondi on Oct 31st in St. Anne’s. I also understand that they’re hoping to get the altar back against the wall in about a month!

San Diego, you are lucky! I am still hoping and praying for a parish to be established a couple of hundred miles north in a city named after a great man from Assisi.

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